American Civil War: A History Project

• Subject: History
• Grade: 8th

Standards:

• SS.8.A.1.7 "View historic events through the eyes of those who were there as shown in their art, writings, music, and artifacts."
• LA.8.6.4.1 "The student will use appropriate available technologies to enhance communication and achieve a purpose (e.g., video, digital technology)."
• S.S.8.A.1.6 "Compare interpretations of key events and issues throughout American History."
• S.S.8.A.1.2 "Analyze charts, graphs, maps, photographs and timelines; analyze political cartoons; determine cause and effect."
• NETS - 3. Research and Information Fluency

Objectives:

• 8th grade History students will be able to identify at least 5 different battles that occurred during the American Civil War after researching major battles. (Knowledge)
• 8th grade History students will be able to differentiate between the Confederate and Union states and their leaders. (Analysis)

Media:

• Computer Lab and/or Laptop Cart (For use by students to complete their assignments).
• Internet (For research by students).
• MS Word (Planning).
• MS PowerPoint (Students will create a short presentation throughout the week).
• MS Publisher (Students will be creating a poster about the Civil War).
• Books on the Civil War (Research).

Utilizing Media:

• Be sure to reserve the computer lab or laptop cart well in advance for each day that you need them. You do not need to be in the lab everyday, you can use a laptop cart as well. Check and make sure all of the computers have working internet, Word, PowerPoint, and Publisher (they should, but check just to be sure). Before you introduce this lesson to your students, create a poster or PowerPoint to show your class to give them instructions on what to do.

Procedure (Student Participation):

• Introduce the unit to your students on the first day of the week, at the beginning of the class period.
• Present your PowerPoint/Poster/ect. to your students to inform them of what exactly they will be doing for the next 5 class periods.
• On each separate day, give your students full instructions for the activity/assignment for that day. Make sure you give details so that they will know what is going on. Showing examples would be a good idea if you can.
• Since each day has a different activity, be sure to specify when the assignment is due. (Due dates are listed below).
  • Monday - A little bit of research. Answers to the questions will be due at the end of the class period.
    • Be sure to reserve a laptop cart or the computer lab for this day.
  • Tuesday - A Different World?! 2 or more page, typed essay. Due in class on Wednesday.
    • Reserve a laptop cart or the computer lab.
  • Wednesday - Brass Bands. Students will create a short PowerPoint presentation. They will turn it in to your class folder on the computer. All students should have their presentations submitted to that specific folder on your schools network by the end of the class period.
    • Reserve a laptop cart or the computer lab for this day.
  • Thursday - Battle Fields. Students will be creating a poster using MS Publisher with information about 5 battles during the Civil War. The finished product will be printed out and handed in to you on Friday.
    • Reserve a laptop cart or the computer lab for this day.
  • Friday - Generals. For the final assignment students will be creating a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting Generals Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. This diagram will be printed out and handed in at the end of the class period.
    • Reserve a laptop cart or the computer lab for this day.

• Let the students work on their assignments individually, but encourage them to ask their fellow classmates for help before they ask you.
• Walk around the computer lab and/or your classroom to observe that your students are actually working on their assignments.
• Be sure to answer any questions that the student may have.
  • (Student assignments and activities are listed here.)

Evaluation (Student):

Evaluation (Lesson/Teacher):

• If your 90% of your students completed all of their assignments completely, then you should keep the lesson the way it is.
• If less than 90% of your students completed the assignments, then something went wrong with the lesson plan and it should be revised.

• If this lesson does not go as planned, meaning students did not do as well as you thought they would by themselves, you can revise this plan to make the students work in groups instead. You will need to ask your students what they would want to do differently and possibly shorten the unit down to 3-4 assignments instead of 5. It may have been the students did not have enough time to complete all the assignments. Figure out what works best for you and your students.
• If the lesson did go how you wanted it to, keep doing the same thing, no need to change anything.